We’re not cynical enough to suspect the NCAA Selection Committee planned it this way, but … you know. It sure worked out nicely.

On the heels of his 700th career victory, earned in the Round of 64 here Friday evening vs. Villanova, Williams will lead his Tar Heels, the South Region’s No. 8 seed, into battle against the top-seeded Jayhawks.

That story will factor as large as any into college basketball’s weekend news cycle.

And if we know anything about Williams, it’s that he’ll gladly do his part to play up the Roy-still-loves-Kansas angle. In his first couple of days in this town, less than an hour’s drive from Lawrence, Williams has repeated—in some cases word for word—all the “aw, shucks”-isms about his former school that we’ve heard from him in the past.

“I gave my heart, body and soul (to Kansas) for 15 years,” he said on Thursday.

He said exactly the same thing a year ago in St. Louis before UNC and KU met in the Elite 8.

“When I was coach at Kansas,” he said, “it was my favorite school. North Carolina was my second-favorite school. I happen to be coaching at North Carolina now, and it’s my favorite school and Kansas is my second-favorite school.”

Again: a total echo.

The man has some kind of shtick.

But Roy? The shtick is old and tired. It’s time to retire it once and for all.

Williams has been at UNC for 10 seasons now. He’s even more dyed in the wool there than Self is at KU. Before long, Self will have eclipsed all of Williams’ accomplishments as coach of the Jayhawks. (Some would say he has eclipsed most of them already.)

Williams should say as much to the media—and to all basketball-lovers in this neck of the woods—on Saturday. Respectfully yet unapologetically, he should say the subject of his decision to leave KU in 2003 has gotten so very old. Something like this comes to mind:

“I’m the coach at North Carolina, pure and simple. Let’s not talk about the old days so much anymore.”

He should say that, but he won’t. Instead, he’ll try to make sure folks around here like him.

“I don’t think Coach cares about getting booed,” said UNC senior Dexter Strickland. “I’m pretty sure he’s experienced that throughout his whole career of coaching. That’s probably the least of his worries.”

The heck it is. Williams was very affected by some of the criticism he took from the KU faithful a decade ago, and since then he has used his shtick like a shield.

But who needs it anymore?

Williams has won at least one game in 23 consecutive tournaments. In the same arena where Kansas State and Wisconsin were upset on Friday—and in light of Georgetown’s loss to the gang from the Gulf Coast—how incredible is that choke-free record? Williams has two national titles at UNC and, though this season’s Tar Heels may not be Final Four material, the team is playing its best basketball at the ideal time.

“Everybody has confidence in each other,” said junior Reggie Bullock. “We’ve grown as a team every game.”

All the more reason their coach should be a little less charming and a little more focused on beating Kansas.

Williams needn’t make excuses for the 2013 Tar Heels, although often he does. Because they’ve gone almost exclusively small-ball—a wise, gutsy move by Williams more than halfway into the season—they have certain inherent weaknesses, such as virtually everything that has to do with being large.

The charming coach likes to talk about those weaknesses, but the truth is UNC has the firepower to upset the Jayhawks.

And if you don’t believe it, please repeat these words as many times as you can stand it: Kansas 64, Western Kentucky 57. As you know, that game was up for grabs deep into the second half.

The Jayhawks barely beat a 16 seed, and they’re supposed to outclass the Tar Heels like it’s nothing? Please.

Williams doesn’t have to apologize for his team, but maybe he does have to do something about this whole Self thing. In their two previous meetings, both in the NCAA Tournament, Williams had to stomach losses. The first time, in 2008, a spot in the national title game was on the line.

Heading into both games, the Tar Heels were widely considered the better team.

They’re big-time underdogs now, and no amount of charm will help. Stick the shtick somewhere cold and dark, Roy. It’s time to make some people mad.